Chapter 5 Maybe Dating Isn’t Impossible
Five
Maybe Dating Isn’t Impossible
Miles
The engagement party looks exactly as Nora described.
String lights sweep across the ceiling, bathing everything in warm gold.
Champagne mingles with citrus from freshly twisted peels and the heavy sweetness of floral arrangements.
Glassware clinks in constant percussion as mini toasts erupt in random bursts across the restaurant.
I recalibrate my grip on the champagne flute. I don’t actually enjoy champagne. The carbonation is aggressive, and the acidity skews high. But declining the glass would have required a social explanation, so I accepted it.
A cork discharges nearby with a muted—thunk-pop—followed by laughter that spikes the ambient noise level.
My mouth dries. I swallow, but it doesn’t help.
Everyone else knows where to stand, what to do with their hands, when to laugh.
I stand there with my jaw locked, with a smile loaded and ready to deploy the second anyone looks at me.
Nora’s voice cuts through the noise in my head.
Relax. You’ve got this
Emily stands beside me, smiling like she’s done this a hundred times.
I try to mirror it—shoulders loose, posture open—but I have no idea what to do with my free hand.
It hovers awkwardly at my side. I rest it on my hip.
Weird. I shove it into my pocket. Now I’m too closed off, so I drop it to my side. Now it’s just… dangling.
Stop overthinking about your hand.
“So,” I say, keeping my voice steady, “how do you know the happy couple?”
She chuckles. “She’s my cousin, remember?”
“Oh. Right.” I press my lips together. “Temporary memory lapse.”
A woman materializes at Emily’s elbow. “Hi, I’m Emily’s Aunt Dorothy. You must be Miles. Emily’s mom mentioned she was bringing a date.” Her eyes gleam with curiosity. “With Lucy engaged, Emily’s the last cousin left. How long have you two been together?”
Emily’s shoulders lock up beside me, the way metal does when it hits a magnet. Her gaze drops to the floor, then flicks back up—polite, but tight. This is the moment. This is why I’m here. Be the date. Take off the family pressure.
“Not long,” I reply evenly, “but long enough to know I’m really enjoying getting to know her.”
Emily’s expression softens. Dorothy nods, apparently satisfied, and drifts back into the crowd after a few more questions. I resist the urge to high five myself.
Emily leans closer. “Thank you. I hate that question. Everyone acts like it’s a deadline.”
“I get it.” And I do.
Later, we slip away from the main cluster and hover near the edge of the dance floor. Music vibrates through the floorboards.
“You holding up okay?” I ask.
“I am. Thanks for checking.”
“Want another drink? Or some air?”
“Air sounds perfect.”
Outside, the mid-August air is cooler. Quieter.
The moonlight ricochets off the lake while the city hums in the distance.
Nora’s words about what would happen if I stopped trying so hard settles in deep inside me.
I’m not panicking. I’m not cataloging facts.
I’m just… here. After a few minutes, we step back inside, and I excuse myself to use the restroom.
I push through the door, duck into a stall, and lock it. My heart races, but not in a bad way. More like… progress. I pull out my phone.
Miles
Hey.
Her reply comes almost instantly.
Nora
Is your date over?
A smile pulls at my mouth.
Miles
No.
Nora
Then where are you and why are you texting me?
I glance around at the tile walls, the music thudding faintly through them.
Miles
I’m in the bathroom.
Nora
You’re texting me from the bathroom while still on your date?
My grin widens.
Miles
I wanted to tell you I followed all your directions.
I watch the typing dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Miles
No random facts. No weird food comparisons. No bathroom commentary.
Miles
And it’s… actually going really well.
Nora
I’m so happy for you.
Miles
You helped. A lot.
Nora
I’m proud of you.
A knot twists inside me. I pull in a breath to shake it off, but it catches halfway, snagging on whatever this feeling is.
Miles
The only thing is I don’t know what to do with my hands.
Miles
She’s my date, should I touch her? What’s safe?
Her reply comes quickly.
Nora
Touching will show affection to make it appear more real. When you’re walking around, a hand on her middle back is a good spot. Don’t go lower, that’s too intimate. Be sure she’s okay with it first.
Miles
Okay. Permission. Middle back. Got it.
Miles
I’m going back out there now.
Nora
Go be charming. I’ll be here.
Finally, things settle into place, and it’s thanks to Nora. As we move toward the crowd, I lean closer. “Would it be alright if I put my hand on your back while we walk?” She nods. My palm settles gently at the middle of her back. She smiles up at me. I totally got this.
The party slowly thins out. Some guests actually leave, while others announce they’re leaving and then circle back into another thirty-minute conversation about the engaged couple.
I nod at all the right moments while Emily does most of the talking—smiling, thanking, promising we’ll “catch up soon,” even though I’m fairly certain she repeated that to the same woman three times.
Eventually, she grabs her purse, hugs her cousin one last time, and we slip out beneath the final strands of glowing string lights.
On the drive back to Emily’s, we talk about how the date went while she fills out a review on OneDate. When I pull up to the curb, I shift into park and step out at the same time she does, meeting her on the passenger side.
“You don’t have to walk me to my door.”
“Oh.” I pause. “Right. I just… wanted to be polite.”
She laughs softly. “Well, thank you for tonight. You made the party a lot more bearable.”
As we stroll to her front door, warmth spreads through my body. “Thanks for choosing me. I had fun. And—” I hesitate, then push through. “If you ever need another date, I’d be happy to help.”
She nods. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good night, Emily.”
“Good night, Miles.” She slips inside, the door closing gently behind her.
I stand there a moment longer than necessary before heading back to my car. Once inside, I shut the door and rest my head against the headrest. That went… well. Instead of starting the engine, I pull out my phone.
Miles
The date was a success.
Only a few seconds tick by before she replies.
Nora
That’s great to hear.
I grin.
Miles
I even did the hand-on-the-back thing. It worked.
Nora
Glad the tip helped.
Miles
I think I still need practice with the physical cues.
Nora
It gets easier the more you do it.
I stare at the screen, then type the thought that’s been hovering in my head all night.
Miles
Thanks again. I don’t think I could’ve done it without you.
Her response takes a little longer this time.
Nora
You did all the work. I just gave advice.
I swallow, heart thumping but not from nerves this time. From possibility.
Miles
Maybe we could practice more sometime.
The typing dots appear. Disappear. Reappear. I hold my breath like that might influence the outcome.
Nora
Sure.
A slow smile spreads across my face. Maybe dating isn’t impossible after all. Then again… it might just be easier when Nora’s involved.